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The
Feature Meeting
Analysis
& Selections by
".b.i.g."
Whether
it be "the race of the day" or a small prize round the gaffs, we
will attempt to use our knowledge of the formbook to highlight the fancied
horses participating each day and their
characteristics and requirements. Hopefully this 'second opinion' provides
you with a winner or two each day, or even reinforces your own view on a
particular may even convince you to back some of those horses which we
feel are the "ones to fear", or have decent eachway claims.
whichever is the case, we hope the information is of use to you.
SELECTIONS
- For each race, we have given you who, in our view, are the likeliest
winners; (1er _ THE WINNER?), as well as any runners who could run well at
eachway odds; (E/W ALTERNATIVE) . Any runner from our features are shown
before each race's analysis.
DERBY MEETING ~ Epsom Downs
Friday, June 6.
|¯¯"First¯Race"¯¯|¯¯»-- 1.40 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored By Vodafone) (A) (Listed Race) 8runners 1mile~114yds Penalty £23200 3-Year-Olds plus fillies
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¦ " .b.i.g. " ¦:¬»-- Eight runners contest the opening race on Oaks day of whom Nayzak, Aldora, Lady Bear, Pearl Queen, Goodness Gracious and Londonnetdotcom are the likeliest to prevail. Aldora has been in great form this season winning 3 of her 5 starts including her most recent effort 2 weeks ago at Goodwood. She has done well to progress from the handicap ranks to this level and will
definitely give a good account of herself here. However, it's possible she may be coming up against a 'Tartar' in the shape of Nayzak who on her only start last term at Newmarket in August beat Hi Dubai (who is of course strongly fancied to win the Oaks later on today). She hasn't race since due to injury, however surely wouldn't be unless she was ready to do herself justice. She may be difficult to beat and is the selection. Each-way punters could do a lot worse that side with German raider Pearl Queen who I watched winning at San Siro last time out in a similar event. She has won 5 of her 7 starts and wouldn't need to improve much on her run last October behind Welsh Diva, again at San Siro to be competitive here.
¦ 1st PLACE ¬ WINNER? ¦:¬»-- Nayzak
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬»-- Aldora
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬»-- Pearl Queen (e/w)
|¯¯"Second¯Race"¯¯|¯¯»-- 2.10 Vodafone Corporate Handicap (B) 17runners 1mile~114yds Penalty £29000 3-Year-Olds plus
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¦ " .b.i.g. " ¦:¬»-- The second race on the card is an open looking handicap over a mile. Of the 17 runners declared, Everest, Highland Shot, Mystic Man, Pagan Sky, Joint Statement, Thihn, Ace Of Hearts, Dumaran, J R Stevenson, Passing Glance, Anna Walhaan, Highland Reel and Takes Tutu would be the horses I'd consider. Everest is almost certain to go off favourite after two easy successes this term at Sandown and Ascot at the end of April. He is nicely treated here and is sure to give a good account of himself. However, I prefer Highland Shot, a winner herself three times this season who despite finishing four lengths behind Everest when they met at Ascot may have more chance of defeating him over this slightly easier course (the fact she has won over course and distance is a big bonus). Takes Tutu (who ran well on his first race in this country this season behind Akshar at Goodwood at the end of last month) may be good enough to 'nick' a place for each-way punters.
¦ 1st PLACE ¬ WINNER? ¦:¬»-- Highland Shot
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬»-- Everest
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬»-- Takes Tutu (e/w)
|¯¯"Third¯Race"¯¯|¯¯»-- 2.45 Vodafone Newbury Handicap (B) 14runners 1mile~2f 18yds Penalty £29000 4-Year-Olds plus
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¦ " .b.i.g. " ¦:¬»-- Another handicap comes next on the card and again several of the runners can be entertained. Akshar (a four-year-old son of Danehill) who was pushed out to win at Goodwood on his reappearance is almost certain to go off as favourite, however he faces stern challenges from Danelor, Gentleman Venture, Pagan Dance, Silence Is Golden, Broadway Score, Pulau Tioman and
Sahaat. Although his record suggests he isn't a horse to be trusted, there is plenty to like about the manner in which Pagan Dance disposed of his rivals when winning last time out at Newmarket. His
demeanor at the business end of the race more than often suggests he isn't putting it all in, however on a going day, I believe he is more than capable of giving Akshar a fight and I'd be inclined to cross my fingers and hope for the best. At least you appreciate the risk if you side along with me here.
¦ 1st PLACE ¬ WINNER? ¦:¬»-- Pagan Dance
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬»-- Akshar
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬»-- Danelor
|¯¯"Fourth¯Race"¯¯|¯¯»-- 3.25 CORONATION CUP (Sponsored By Vodafone) (A) (Group 1) 10runners 1mile~4f 10yds Penalty £174000 4-Year-Olds plus
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¦ " .b.i.g. " ¦:¬»-- A good renewal (in terms of quantity) of the Coronation Cup, however several of the runners here have questions to prove. Black Sam Bellamy seeks to throw off the mantle of being
Galileo's brother and seeks recognition in his own right here. Certainly the horse I saw battle to success at San Siro last October, or more recently at The Curragh last month certainly deserves to be acknowledged for his own effort and warrants the utmost respect in this lineup. He may well go off as favourite, however he won't always be 'gifted' a Group 1 as weak as the one he won last time out and this on paper looks to be a particularly hard assignment though not as hard as finishing behind Fair Mix in a true Group 1 event at
Longchamp in April.
Who would you oppose him with? Well certainly Warrsan deserves our respect here having done nothing wrong this term winning twice at Newmarket and Newbury before failing to concede 4lbs to Mamool in the Yorkshire Cup last time out. This horse doesn't quite has the profile of Aiden O'Brien's runner and has proven on more than one
occasion how tough and resolute he is and has certainly given the favourite plenty to think about here. The same applies to stablemates Bandari and Zindabad who on the best of their form shown last season would arguably be shorter prices than they currently stand...admittedly though both of them made disappointing reappearances and would need to significantly improve here.
You can also make a case for Highest who looked as though he would come on for his
reappearance run behind Warrsan at Newmarket at the beginning of May. Albanova, only beaten once in her career (though that was when stepped up to Group 1 company) and Polish Summer (a respectable fourth to
Sulamani at Nad Al Sheba in March). Andre Fabre's six-year-old has been consistently placed in some of the best middle-distance Group 1 events held in Europe and with the race being run to suit, makes plenty of appeal particularly I suspect for the each-way punters amongst you. He is
preferred to Warrsan who is difficult to see not running well and Albanova.
¦ 1st PLACE ¬ WINNER? ¦:¬»-- Polish Summer (e/w)
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬»-- Warrsan
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬»-- Albanova
|¯¯"Fifth¯Race"¯¯|¯¯»-- 4.05 THE OAKS (Sponsored By Vodafone) (A) (Group 1) 15runners 1mile~4f 10yds Penalty £240700 3-Year-Olds only fillies
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¦ " .b.i.g. " ¦:¬»-- In a season that has refreshingly not been dominated by Godolphin and Ballydoyle, it is somewhat ironic that they should head the market for the latest renewal of The Oaks. Here's a brief summary of what we think of the runner is this year's
lineup;
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Casual Look - Better than her form figures suggest as despite only winning once last term at Bath she has been consistently placed in some of the best fillies events over a mile, most recently when finishing a creditable 6th in the 1000 Guineas. This step up to 12 furlongs may suit, however is she good enough? |
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Geminiani - Has always been highly regarded by connections and had Inchberry, Santa Sophia and Hammiya all behind her on her debut at Goodwood last August. She made a pleasing reappearance behind Cassis in the
Musidora at York and should come on for that run. Has each-way claims. |
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Halawanda - Looked good when winning readily on her reappearance at Newbury however appeared to be beaten fair and square by Hammiya in the Cheshire Oaks and seemingly has plenty to do here. |
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Hammiya - Has impressed on both starts this season at Beverley and most recently at Chester. Connections were justified in supplementing her and we expect a bold bid. |
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Hanami - Excellent 5th in the 1000 Guineas behind Russia
Rythm gives this daughter of Hernando outstanding claims especially as you would expect her to appreciate the step-up in distance here. Is she good enough? |
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Hearts N' Minds - Sorry, not good enough though should win a maiden in time. |
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Hi Dubai - Has done very little wrong winning the Pretty Polly on her reappearance at Newmarket before finding
Fidélité too strong at Longchamp. Must go close if she stays. |
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High Praise - Difficult to evaluate having won a minor event at Salisbury on her debut before winning a Group 3 at Deaville in October. There is no problem with her regards the trip - I think it's a case of what impression she makes, either in the paddock or in the betting exchanges. Not without a chance. |
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Inchberry - It is difficult to fancy a horse who gets well beaten in a Class C stakes race at Catterick. |
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L'Ancresse - A fair 4th behind stablemate Yesterday in the Irish 1000 Guineas and should appreciate a step up in distance here. Not completely convinced that that would be good enough for her to oblige here. |
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Santa Sophia - This daughter of Linamix has impressed by winning both starts this season at Windsor and Lingfield's Oaks trial at the beginning of May. She
definitely should go well, however this is a step up in grade again and I'm not convinced that she is quite up to that mark. |
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Summitville - Is bred to stay this trip being a daughter of Grand Lodge out of a Shirley Heights mare who won the Group 3 May Hill Stakes as a 2-year-old (that's the positive part). She has though been soundly beaten in both starts this season at Newmarket and
Longchamp and it's a huge leap of faith to show any confidence in her (that's the negative part) though it would be foolish to completely rule out the possibility. |
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Thingmebob - Technically a maiden, despite having won a private sweepstake at Newmarket. Is impossible to fancy on her recent demise in a Class D maiden at Lingfield. Strong
candidate for 'last past the post'. |
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Waldmark (GER) - Looked a filly to follow when winning on her debut at Kempton last September, Waldmark made a pleasing reappearance behind Sun On The Sea at Newbury in May. Interesting that connections are lining up here as you'd have to presume she has show some improvement from that run. She'll need to have done so to win this. |
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Yesterday - A daughter of Sadlers Wells out of a
Darshaan mare who won over 9 furlongs as a two-year-old. You'd think she is crying out for a step up in trip.
Probably was an fortunate winner of the Irish 1000 Guineas, however it was a good effort nonetheless and she is a deserved
favourite.. but do we think she'll prevail? |
No, as good as she is, we do like Hi Dubai, who will pay a handsome
compliment to Fidélité, who beat her in the Prix Saint-Alary ... I would certainly be keen to dabble in the eachway market, and I
believe Geminiani, makes plenty of appeal in that regards, as do Hanami and High Praise
¦ 1st PLACE ¬ WINNER? ¦:¬»-- Hi Dubai,
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬»-- Geminiani, [e/w]
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬»-- High Praise
¦ 4th place?³ ¦:¬»--Yesterday
|¯¯"Sixth¯Race"¯¯|¯¯»-- 4.45 Vodafone Surrey Stakes (A) (Listed Race) 9runners 7f Penalty £23200 3-Year-Olds only
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¦ " .b.i.g. " ¦:¬»-- Rimrod, Royal Dignitary, Naahy, Fiddlers Reach, Duty Paid, Babodana and
Binanti, make plenty of appeal in the penultimate race on the card. Naahy has
been particularly impressive in winning his last two starts and will a lot of beating here, however he may set the race up for Rimrod and Royal Dignitary, who
finished behind Kalaman in the Heron Stakes last time out. I doubt they'll be much to choose between them again here, however I'll take Rimrod to confirm
the form again here.
¦ 1st PLACE ¬ WINNER? ¦:¬»-- Rimrod
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬»-- Royal Dignitary
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬»-- Naahy
|¯¯"Seventh¯Race"¯¯|¯¯»-- 5.20 Vodafone Group Services Handicap (C) 17runners 7f Penalty £23200 3-Year-Olds only
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¦ " .b.i.g. " ¦:¬»-- Another open looking handicap ends the racecard. Of the
seventeen declared runners Tarjman, Crafty Calling, Soyuz, Court Masterpiece, Into The Breeze, Compton Emperor, Michelle Ma Belle, Nuit Sombre, Jay Gee's Choice, and Bi Polar, all make varying
degrees of appeal. Its hard to get away from the current favourite
Tarjman, who created a favourable impression when winning a similar event over six furlongs at the Craven meeting. He
hasn't raced since however his shrewd trainer surely wouldnt be ,lining him up
here, if he didn't believe that he was capable of dong himself justice.. he gets the vote here.
¦ 1st PLACE ¬ WINNER? ¦:¬»-- Tarjman
¦ 2nd place?² ¦:¬»-- Soyuz,
¦ 3rd place?³ ¦:¬»-- Michelle Ma Belle, [e/w]
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